Legislative Changes

Section 13 repealed

As of June 26, 2014, section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act will no longer be in force. Section 13 prohibits hate messages over the phone and the Internet. The Bill that proposed this amendment received Royal Assent on June 26, 2013.

Bill C-4, known as the budget implementation act

On December 12, 2013, the Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No 2 (Bill C-4) received Royal Assent. The purpose of Bill C-4 is to implement certain provisions of the last federal budget, as well as other changes. Among these changes is an important change in how discrimination complaints from employees of the federal public service will be dealt with.

Although federal public servants will still be protected by the Canadian Human Rights Act, once Bill C-4 comes into force, they will no longer be able to file employment-related discrimination complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Instead, employees of the federal public service will have to file a grievance if they believe they are experiencing employment-related discrimination. Human rights grievances will be referred for adjudication to a newly created Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board. This Board will replace the Public Service Labour Relations Board and the Public Service Staffing Tribunal.